The animal kingdom is as weird as it is wonderful, and Africa is a prime example of this. Here, we delve into some truly astounding details about Africa’s animals that are pretty mind-blowing! Let's start with the iconic Big Five and then explore other interesting creatures of this diverse continent.
What are the Big Five?
The Big Five animals are:
- African lion
- African bush elephant
- Black rhino
- African leopard
- Cape buffalo
It's a common misconception that the Big Five are the five biggest or heaviest African animals. Hippos, for instance, are three times heavier than Cape buffaloes. So why are they called the Big Five?
Why are they called the Big Five?
The term "Big Five" was coined in the late nineteenth century by colonists in Africa to indicate the wild animals they considered the hardest and most dangerous to hunt on foot. These animals are considered so dangerous because of how ferocious they become when injured or cornered. This means the Big Five aren't the biggest or heaviest of Africa's game; giraffes, crocodiles, and hippos would have to be in contention if it were just about size and weight.
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A mother and her calf in the open plains of the Serengeti.
Where are the Big Five found?
The Big Five live in Africa. The regions that have all of the Big Five game are Southern and Eastern Africa. This is where you can go on safari and see all of the Big Five game in the wild.
Which countries have the Big Five?
Here's the list of countries where you can visit to see the Big Five, in alphabetical order: Angola, Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Not all of these countries, however, are ideal for a safari. The reasons vary from safety and security to the numbers of each of the Big Five species. So let's discuss the best countries for an epic Big Five game safari...
The best Big Five safari destinations
While there are several countries where you can go see the Big Five and have a great safari, here's a list of only the very best countries for this. These are countries where it's pretty safe for tourists, there are fantastic national parks to visit, and the Big Five can be found in abundance.
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- Botswana: This is one of the very best countries for a Big Five safari! Chobe National Park is one of the world's best game parks.
- Kenya: A great African safari destination, and home to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve, where you can see the Great Wildlife Migration at certain times of the year.
- Namibia: Etosha National Wildlife Park is a real bucket-list must. Its massive salt pan gets flooded every year, attracting countless game and birds. It doesn't, however, have buffaloes - for these, you must head to the Caprivi Strip.
- South Africa: There are so many wonderful game parks in South Africa, the most famous being Kruger National Park.
- Tanzania: One of the very best countries for an African safari, if not the best! It's home to the famous Serengeti National Park, where you can see the Great Wildebeest Migration. There's also the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater.
- Uganda: Uganda is excellent for uncrowded safaris. You can't see rhinos in the wild, but you can visit them up close at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. These are the rarer black rhinos, too, which is exciting. It also has gorilla treks.
- Zambia: Kafue National Park is a real gem, and you can see pangolins here too. A bonus of a Big Five safari in Zambia is the opportunity to see the mighty Victoria Falls too!
The leopard is the hardest of the Big Five game to spot on safari.
Let’s Look at the Big Five in Detail
Many people know which animals constitute the Big Five, but they’re surprised to learn how little they actually know about them. For instance, there are two kinds of African elephants, and only one is in the Big Five. And rhinos have very poor vision, relying on smell and sound to know what animals are around them.
1. Lions
Ever heard the lion referred to as the king of the jungle? It’s a funny name, since lions don’t live in jungles - they live in grassland, savannah, scrubland, and hill country. It might also be surprising to learn that lions are the laziest of the big cats. They sleep and rest for 16 to 20 hours a day!
Look at those powerful limbs!
5 Facts You Didn't Know About the Lion
Here are five things you probably didn't know about the lion:
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- Lions are happy to scavenge for food, often stealing what's been killed by hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs, or leopards.
- They can survive for four or five days without water by absorbing the moisture in the stomachs of prey.
- Lionesses hunt in a semicircle, with the weaker ones on the flanks bringing the prey into the centre for the stronger ones to take down.
- The mane of the male lion helps to protect its neck during fights.
- A lion's roar can be heard from up to 8 km away. They roar to locate other members of the pride.
Does the Lion Have Any Predators?
The lion's biggest enemy, after humans, is the hyena. Cape buffaloes have also been known to kill lions on occasion, usually if they feel threatened. It's mostly lion cubs who are in danger, as they're targeted by hyenas, leopards, jackals, and even non-related male lions taking over leadership of their pride. In fact, lion cubs have a mortality rate of 60 to 70%.
Do All Lions Climb Trees?
No, very few lion populations climb or sleep in trees. Only a handful of populations in Uganda and Tanzania can be found to climb trees. Researchers aren't sure why exactly this is the case - so far, they only have theories.
If you want to see climbing lions, we recommend heading to Lake Manyara National Park or Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, or Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
A tree-climbing lioness asleep on a branch.
Where is the Best Place to See Lions?
You can see lions throughout Southern and East Africa. Tanzania has the largest population of lions of any country, with an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 individuals. Of all its reserves, Serengeti National Park has the most lions, and you're pretty much guaranteed to see prides of lions on a safari there.
2. Elephants
Did you know there are actually two kinds of African elephant? The bush elephant and the forest elephant. When you go on safari to see big game, you’re going to see bush elephants, also known as savannah elephants. (Forest elephants, which are smaller, live in the forests of West Africa and the Congo basin.) Elephants are believed to be as smart as chimps and dolphins.
Fun Facts About African Bush Elephants
Here are some fun facts about African bush elephants:
- The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest and heaviest land animal.
- Their tusks start growing when they’re one to three years old, and never stop.
- They can live for 60 to 70 years in the wild.
- Adults eat about 230 kg (500 lb) of vegetation a day. Elephants are herbivores through and through.
- Adults other than the parents also help to look after calves. The herds are often led by matriarchs, who have wickedly good memories, which helps them to know who’s a friend and who’s an enemy.
Where is the Best Place to See Elephants?
African elephants live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from South Africa as far north as Ethiopia. Botswana is believed to have more elephants than any other country, which makes it a great destination for viewing elephants in the wild. Some of the other countries that are popular among safari-goers and have large elephant populations are South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, and Uganda.
Elephants don't have sweat or sebum glands, so they cover themselves in water or mud to keep cool. The cracks in their skin help them to retain moisture.
An elephant in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater.
3. Rhino
The rhino - does anybody ever put in the effort to say rhinoceros anymore? It's a favorite animal to see on an African safari. It's crazy that height alone makes it fascinating. Then there are those clunky feet, tiny eyes, and narrow, hair-tipped ears! And don't get us started on the calves - a baby rhino is just too cute!
Interesting Rhino Facts
Here are a handful of interesting facts about rhinos:
- Rhinos have pretty poor eyesight, but their hearing and sense of smell are excellent.
- Their horns are made of thousands of compressed strands of keratin (similar to human fingernails). It's very hardy, but can be split during fights.
- Rhinos literally scream if they're scared.
- White rhinos have wide mouths with 'square' lips to help them graze.
White Rhinos vs Black Rhinos
There are two kinds of African rhino: the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). The easiest way to tell if it's a black or white rhino is to look at the shape of its mouth. Black rhinos have a pointed upper lip, used to pick leaves and fruit off trees and shrubs. White rhinos, on the other hand, have wider, square-lipped mouths used for grazing grass. White rhinos actually earned their name because English settlers to South Africa misinterpreted the Afrikaans word "wyd," which means ‘wide’, to mean ‘white’. Did you know that the black and white rhino are actually the same colour of grey??
Here are two other interesting differences between white and black rhinos:
- White rhinos are the bigger animal by far: adult males weigh 1,800 to 2,500 kg, while adult male black rhinos only weigh up to 1,350 kg.
- Black rhinos have two long horns, while white rhinos have a long horn and a shorter one.
Technically speaking, it's the black rhino alone that's part of the Big Five, not the white rhino. This is because the animals dubbed the Big Five were the ones that were considered most dangerous to hunt on foot. Even though white rhinos can be twice the size of black rhinos, the latter is more aggressive. If, however, a white rhino and black rhino were to clash, the white rhino's superior size and strength would likely give it the victory.
Is the Rhino Endangered?
Unfortunately, there aren't nearly as many rhinos as there once were, thanks to humans. Widespread hunting and poaching have led to the black rhino becoming critically endangered. There are only about 5,500 left.
As to the white rhino, there are actually two kinds: the northern white rhino and the southern white rhino. The northern white rhino is extinct in the wild, and just two individuals live on a reserve in Kenya.
The southern white rhino is the subspecies you can see on safari. Its numbers are around 18,000, and its status is "near threatened".
Where are the Best Places to See Rhinos?
Rhinos aren't as populous as the other Big Five game, given that they're endangered (the black rhino) and threatened (the white rhino). It's because of the rhino alone that some African countries boasting great wildlife can't market themselves as having the Big Five.
| Black AND White Rhinos | Black Rhinos | White Rhinos |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | Malawi | Uganda |
| Kenya | Tanzania | |
| Namibia | ||
| South Africa | ||
| Swaziland | ||
| Zambia | ||
| Zimbabwe |
4. Leopard
Leopards are notoriously hard to spot on safari. They're by far the hardest of the Big Five to find. Not only do they like to hang out in trees, but the spots and rosettes on their fur help them blend in with the leaves. Further, they're mostly solitary creatures, so you're looking for just one lone creature. If you do manage to spot a leopard on safari, you're one of the lucky ones!
5 Things You Didn't Know About the Leopard
The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is a fascinating creature. Here are some facts you probably didn't know:
- Leopards can see seven times better at night than humans. Nighttime is when they go hunting.
- A group of leopards is called a leap of leopards. So poetic!
- The tail of a leopard is almost as long as its body.
- They can carry up to three times their weight.
- The reason they drag their prey up into trees is to keep hyenas and lions from trying to steal it.
Where are the Best Places to See Leopards in the Wild?
Leopards are very adaptable and live throughout Africa, though they're rare in North and West Africa. Most people wanting to go on a Big Five safari head to one of the countries in Southern or East Africa, and you can find leopards there.
5. Cape Buffalo
The buffalo is oddly enough seen as one of the most dangerous of the Big 5 animals. This has a lot to do with the fact that other animals usually show some warning signs before they attack. Buffalo are usually found in large herds, sometimes hundreds of animals in one herd. These huge herds are often closely followed by lions. So much so that you are almost certain to find lions when you see a large herd of buffalos.
A herd of Cape Buffalo.
Buffalo are very good swimmers, as they often cross large rivers to find good grazing fields. One also often sees lonely buffalo bulls (also known as dagga boys) lying in water and mud. The name dagga boy comes from the word “dagga” which refers to a cement mixture used in building houses.
Buffalos have a good symbiotic relationship with many bird species, like the oxpecker and also egrets.
Beyond the Big Five: Other Fascinating African Animals
Africa's animal kingdom extends far beyond the Big Five, encompassing a diverse array of creatures each with its unique characteristics and adaptations. Here are some additional fascinating animals that call Africa home:
- Grey Crowned Cranes: Known for their stunning display of crown-like yellow feathers, these cranes inhabit savannahs and are the national bird of Uganda.
- Aardvarks: These nocturnal, burrowing mammals with pig-like noses and long ears are found across much of Africa south of the Sahara.
- Dugongs: Often called sea cows, these gentle marine mammals are found along the east coast of Africa and Madagascar, and are believed to be the inspiration for mermaid tales.
- Okapis: Also known as forest giraffes, the okapi is a hoofed mammal with striped legs resembling a zebra's pattern, found only northeast of the Congo River.
- Bat-eared Foxes: Found in the African savannah, these foxes are known for their distinctly large ears that help distribute heat and locate prey.
- Shoebills: These birds are known for their enormous, shoe-shaped bills and can reach up to 1.5 meters tall.
- African Penguins: These penguins are found along the southern coast of Africa and are known for their black and white feathers.
- Rufous Elephant Shrews: These small, insectivorous mammals have long, pointed snouts and are found in the savannahs, forests, and scrublands of East Africa.
- Gerenuks: Also known as giraffe gazelles, these antelopes are found in East Africa and have extremely long necks.
- Goliath Frogs: The largest frogs in the world, found in a small region on the western coast of Africa.
Conservation Efforts
Africa faces numerous challenges in preserving its rich biodiversity, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Various organizations and initiatives are dedicated to protecting African wildlife and their habitats. Some notable conservation efforts include:
- Reducing human-elephant conflict through alarm systems and non-lethal tactics.
- Protecting the endangered black rhino by creating new sanctuaries.
- Supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.
- Preventing poaching through anti-poaching patrols and community engagement.
- Protecting marine ecosystems and endangered species like blue whales.
- Working with local communities to promote sustainable practices and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
African Tales
There are many lovely African tales about most of these African animals. Here are a few to look out for:
- Variations of classic tales where the jackal outwits the larger and more ferocious - but less sly - lion.
- "How the Leopard Got His Spots" by Rudyard Kipling.
- Tales about a curious baby elephant being lured too close to the watering hole where a crocodile bites him on his small stubby nose.
- Tales about ill-mannered Strorks the rhinoceros who gobbles a parsees cake.
- Tales about an oxpecker is punished for its selfish spirit and has his home and food source destroyed by a hungry buffalo.
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